ESP Wiki is looking for moderators and active contributors!
Steensgaard's algorithm
Steensgaard's algorithm is an algorithm for efficient alias analysis, which is believed to be patented by Microsoft. Some consider that all "unification based pointer analysis" is covered by the patents which cover this algorithm.[1]
Harm caused by this patent
In 2006, LLVM decided to remove an implementation of the algorithm due to patent concerns. LLVM mailing list regularly receives queries related to the algorithm, which are invariably answered that it was removed due to patent concerns. (Examples: In 2007 and in 2009.)
